How to stay productive when you work from home

Working from home removes the commute but adds distractions. A steady routine is the simplest fix: start and finish at the same times and treat those hours as protected.

Plan your day the night before by choosing the two or three tasks that matter most, and do the hardest one first while your energy is high. Short focus blocks of 25 to 50 minutes with a break in between work well for many people.

Silence notifications while you focus and check messages at set times. Keep your phone out of reach, and tell the people you live with when you are not available.

Look after yourself too. Step outside at lunch, move around every hour and end the day with a clear shutdown ritual, so work does not spill into the evening.